Improvement in blind-hinges



UNrrEn STATES PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES B. CLARK, OF IBUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN BLIND-HINGES.

.To all whom 'it 'may concern.: Be it known that I, CHARLES B. CLARK, of the city of Buifalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in BlindlHinges; and I do hereby declare that. the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had toV the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure I is a view, in elevation, of my improved hinge applied to a blind, with the latter represented as thrown back and fastened open. Fig. II is a similar view of the hinge detached, with the portion to be attached to the blind shown swung back beyond the locking position. Fig. III is a plan of Fig. I. Fig. IV is a plan of the hinge detached in the position for connecting or disconnecting the two portions thereof'. Figs. V and VI are a plan of the female and a bottom-plan view of the male portion of the hinge.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all `the figures.

The object of my invention is the construction of a simple andcheap blind-hinge that will retain the blind in its proper position when thrown open, but which will allow the blind to yield when a given force is exerted against it, or a force that would be injurious to the hinge gr .fdastening if the latter were of the rigid m l v The invention, however, consists in the special construction of the parts, as hereinaf- .ter described, by which the above results are accomplished in a most eective manner. f

As illustrated by the'dra'wings,"A is the female portion, or that attached tothe wall or window-casing B and C is the male portion, secured to the blind. (Represented by D.) Both portions are provided with the ordinary wings e, for securing them to the frame and blind.

The knuckle f of the portion A has a hole or socket, g, of the combined semi-cylindrical and angular form shown in Fig. V, to receive the correspondingly-formed axial pin h of the male portion C, which loosely ts therein, to allow a slight play for a purpose presently to be explained.

The contiguous faces of knuckle f and the knuckle of the male portion are each constructed with a raised ledge or step, s, extending partially around the axial pin and socket, and terminating in inclines m and m to the face of the knucklesfas shown.

In opening the blind the ledges ride upon each other until the'blind reaches its full open position, when the' ledge of one knuckle drops past that of the other,`the shoulders m and m of the movable knuckle sliding down the corresponding inclines of the stationary knuckle, causing a slight lateral movement of the blind, sufcient to bring the angular side of the pin forward in contact with the angle of the socket, with which it coincides only when the blind is in this position, locking the parts together. This lateral or forward movement produced by the two inclines m m', in connection with the weight of the blind, operates to wedge the axial pin to a degree proportioned to the weight of the blind against the side of the socket, so as to require the exertion of amuch greater force to overcome the friction in releasing the blind than it would otherwise, thereby greatly increasing the efficiency of the fastening by preventing its too easy disengagement.

The shoulder m of the lower and stationary knuckle acts as a step to the contiguous one of the movable knuckle, so as to prevent the closing of the shutters, while the opposite shoulder m', with the corresponding one ofthe upper portion, operates to retain the blind in a position parallel to the side of the building, and prevent its slamming against the latter or inclining in an unsightly position against the same. In order to release the shutter from this position, it is manifest that sufficient force must be exerted against it to disengage the shoulders, which can be accomplished only by raising the weight of the blind up theincline of the ledge, and overcome the friction'between the axial pin and the socket produced, as before described, by the wedging action of the inclines m and m. With the ordinary cylindrical axial pin and socket this would re quire considerable force 5 but it has been found from experience with the devices already patented that an increase in the resistance would be desirable and an important improvement. This I have accomplished by the operation of the inclines, as just stated 5 but a still better result is attained by the peculiar construction of the axial pin and corresponding socket,

which engenders a much greater amount of friction to be overcome, while the form of the pin and hole is such as to absolutely prevent the turning of the blind till the latter has been raised and carried back, as before described, so as to allow the pin to revolve in the circular portion of the hole, which is made sufciently large for the purpose.

The wing of the female portion of the hinge is provided with a notch or recess, n, leaving a projecting portion, o. The knuckle of the male portion is made with a iiange, p, provided with a notch, q, the projecting portion o overlapping the iiange, as clearly shown in Figs. I, II, and III.

When it is required to connect the two portions of the hinge, the male portion is turned till the notch q is made to coincide with the projection o, as represented in Fig. IV, which permits the flange to pass the latter by giving the part C a slight turn to destroy the coincidence. It is evident that the projection o will prevent the disengagement of the parts, except when the notch is made to coincide, as above stated.

I design to make both upper and lower hinges of the same construction, to simplify their manufacture, and to avoid the necessity of keeping on hand two kinds.

I construct the wings of both portions of the hinge with a iange, u as shown in Figs. III, IV, V, and VI, which extends the length of the hinge. This gives increased strength to the hinge, while it adds butatrifle to its weight. It also serves as a gage while forming the recess for the wing in the hinge, which assures its proper attaching and easy adjusting. B y slightly overlapping the corner ofthe frame, it covers the connection of the wing with the latter and conceals any defect or irregularity in the same. the fastening, as both upper and lower hinges operate to secure the shutter. v

My improved hinge is readily cast, requiring only two pieces, which enables them to be manufactured at but a trifiing increase over the simple iron fastening-hinge.

IVhile the locking device is sufficient-ly iirm to retain the blind when thrown open, it is not absolutely unyielding, but it will yield to a force that would be dangerous to apply to a rigid fastening.

What I claim as my invention is- '.lhe angular socket g and pin n, in combination with the inclincs m m', constructed and operating as described. Y

CHARLES B. CLARK.

Witnesses:

J AY HYATT, V. II. BECKER.

This increases the efficiency of 

